God of ALL hope

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalms‬ ‭39:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

He didn’t come through.

I waited. And waited. And waited some more. He didn’t come through.

He didn’t show up the way I expected.

The mortgage on our home was due from the first of this month, today is the thirty-first day, and God didn’t show up.

I confess, I felt very disappointed yesterday.

It was the last “business” day of the month. The cut off deadline before the hit for non-payment of a bill appeared on my credit report.

In all my life, I’ve never been late on making a payment.

In the past two years since we’ve had this house, God has showed up every month.

Every.

Single.

Month.

Even at 11:59pm.

This month though, He did not show up…

Especially as I sat in eager expectation.

As I shared my disappointment in His “tardiness” with Him, I felt Him listening and holding His arms out to me.

I climbed up in my ABBA’s arms and weeped. He reminded me that many months ago when He asked me to come away with Him and sacrifice TV and movies for a year it was because life was about to get harder. Unless my focus remained fixed on Him, I would begin sinking like Peter. Unless I trusted His heart when the hard times hit and the pressures began rising, I would walk around feeling discouraged to the point of depression.

He held me close to His bosom and whispered, “Child of mine, I love you. Though I didn’t show up the way you expected, within you there resides My peace, My joy, My strength.”

He beckoned me to come deeper in Him. To worship Him. To trust Him.

Have you ever faced a challenge in which you expected God to show up on “your time” yet He delayed? I’m sure you have…We all have in one way of another.

As I write this post Holy Spirit has brought to mind Mary and Martha and how they waited with eager expectancy for their friend, Jesus to show up and see their brother (see John 11). No doubt they were expecting Jesus to heal Lazarus as He had done with other people not nearly as close to Him.

The sisters sent word to the Master that His friend, Lazarus was sick.

As the sisters waited, and waited, counting down the days and maybe hours with their sundial, no doubt they thought – today is the day. Today, is the day Rabboni, our Master and our dearest friend will show up.

He didn’t.

What do you when your dearest friend doesn’t show up…

Jesus in this case, deliberately tarried.

He didn’t show up to heal Lazarus.

He didn’t show up moments before or after His death.

He didn’t even show up at the funeral service.

He intentionally tarried two more days.

He made no haste to visit His sick friend.

He didn’t ‘send’ a word as He has been known to do.

His first verbal response, (vs 4), “this illness does not lead to death.”

Verse 5 goes on to say “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

‭This posture of Jesus does not look like love at all. To our eyes, we see no evidence of compassion; no sense of urgency. The Master intentionally tarried for TWO WHOLE DAYS.

We know the story, Jesus showed up four days later. By the time He arrived on the scene, Lazarus was in the tomb – worms and their comrades were having a field day with his dead flesh.

Everyone looks to God for a miracle. A resurrection experience. No one however wants to go through sickness and possible death. We cannot have one without the other. In order for a resurrection to occur, something MUST die.

We know how Lazarus’ story unfolded. The Master showed up, called to Lazarus once they rolled away the stone, and out jumped Lazarus from the tomb – grave clothes and all.

His sickness was gone.

Death had lost its grip (for that time).

Siblings were reunited.

Sorrow departed.

Joy returned and this time, in inexpressible and insurmountable abundance.

This story gives me hope. It reminds me that yes, I would like to always be on time with my bills but my hope is not found in money showing up. My hope as David said many centuries ago is in God.

Our hope must only be found in God or else we will end up miserable and feeling defeated.

Our hope is not found in good health, in great wealth, in well behaved children, in having a promotion at work.

Our hope is in God. He is our eternal and unshakable hope.

Friends, where is your hope today? If you find that your hope is in anything but God – you will be in for a rude awakening.

So, God didn’t come through on my time. Yes, I felt disappointed, but my hope, is in Him and in His time, He will come through, even if I end up loosing it all in this life 🙌🏽.

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Published by Precious One

Welcome dear friend.
My daily walk is filled with struggles of obedience and surrender to the leadings of my Abba as I fulfill my current purpose of servitude towards my family and friends.
With each step along my journey, I am given constant opportunities to prove how much I need Christ and am “lifeless” without Him.
It is my prayer that the lessons shared will bring us closer to each other and ultimately closer to Him.
“I do this thing for God, not for success in the work, or for happiness in my soul or for anything else. I am here for God. Life is grandly simple when the spirit of calculating results and consequences, even spiritual results and consequences, has been left among the things that are behind, when obedience is the only thing that matters, when God Himself, and no mere ‘experience’ is our exceeding great reward.” ~Lilias Trotter
In the care of He who loved us first and best,
Deandra
View all posts by Precious One

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67 thoughts on “God of ALL hope”

Love this post little sister! There are so many times in life where God doesn’t do what we were praying for or doesn’t do it in our time. It’s really hard when that happens, nevertheless He tells us to keep trusting Him. We have to keep believing that things will work out according to His plans even when we don’t understand. It’s not easy when it seems He is running late. I love the verses you used. Lazarus was dead then Jesus showed up. With us, our situation may seem dead, but He WILL show up. It’s up to Him how He does it. But we can’t lose hope. He will provide. Thanks for sharing. As always I’m continuing to pray for you!

“God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” – Psalm 46:1. Even when it doesn’t seem so, He is always right there in the middle of the fires with us hence, we don’t get burnt by it. Rather, we come out refined and better. Hold on to His promises sis. He is never a late Comer. When he shows up, he does so big.

God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourself and more than enough for every good cause – 2Cor 9:8

Your post makes me think of Job 13:15-though he slay me I will trust in him. We don’t know why God sometimes does not seem to come through for us. Whether in this life or in heaven he will bless you for trusting him little sister ❤️

Dee, when I was at my all time sickest and couldn’t get out of bed or do anything, I watched the song by Danny Gokey, ‘Hope In Front’, over and over again. Also, Romans 15:13 was and is a favorite too. It’s hard to wait on God’s timing but I’m so thankful that He promises to stay with us even when everything feels lost. 💕💕💕🤗🤗🤗

My dearest Viv, what a consolation we have that we can depend upon His earnest promises to be with us – even when everything feels lost, or in my case, like it’s about to fall apart. It’s like a marriage vow – in sickness and in health; in wealth and in poverty – He will always be here. His being here gives us a guarantee that we are never truly alone – never ever. Thank you for this song, I will be looking into it and am also planning to feed on Romans 15:13 too.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:39-40‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus showed up 4 days after Lazarus had died but He was just on time. He’s a on time LORD, One who knows our hearts cry and can feel our pain, He loves you and will show up just in time
I take comfort in the scripture that says He will never leave us or forsake us and so He’s right there with you strengthening you as you go through this journey . Continue to hold on my sister as He mould you and presses you for His glory.
Amen

What a beautiful post on trust and Hope in Him. God does not always work the way we expect Him to but we have to trust and believe that He knows our need and will provide in HIS way even if we do not yet understand how or when.
Your choice to trust in a time when you feel He is silent is hard but so the right attitude- of obedience and faith.
You are an encouragement and inspiration.
Praying for you sis 🙏🏼
May the Lord provide for you in a mighty way and may He give you peace and and an assurance of His provision while you wait. May He give you the strength and singular focus to keep your eyes on Him.
Love and hugs 🤗

It is hard! No two ways about that but He gives us the strength to go through and sends reminders and nudges through posts 🤗, comments and support from good friends like you to hang in there and be faithful. Thank you for the continual prayers 🙌🏽.
My love to you my sister in “tomorrow” 🤗❤️

I see the promises God made me being manifested in the lives others. Wouldn’t it be nice if God would do it for me? My inner thoughts said back.

Why does it feel like sometimes I just got the short end of the stick? Why do some of my trials feel like a personal blow? Why, when I’ve spent years praying for something, it feels like a brick wall is listening instead of a loving Father in Heaven?

Why does it feel like sometimes God chooses to just not show up?

Because of another answer we don’t think of especially when we are in panic mode…Have faith in God!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Thank you sister! God is good all the time! He will show up at the perfect time, HIS time! I am praying for you in faith, knowing that God has got this. Thank you for your encouragement by your example of faith.

Yes Matt!
Life is hard, rough, tough, challenging, filled with disappointments – sometimes really boulder sized ones too. Despite all this as you reminds me, God is good all the time and will show up in His time. Hallelujah! Thank you for reminding me of this.
Yes, I certainly appreciate the prayers, big time 🙏🏽

I think most of us has been through this situation where we are depending on the Lord to work on our behalf at a certain time. I found that when we relax and simply leave the situation in the hands of God that He turned things around. As you said, He does so in ways that we do not expect. Even though you are disappointed, you are still confident of His love. I will continue to bear you up in my prayers.

I love your heart. 💛 A heart who trusts Jesus in all things. You are a light and an encouragement to all you touch with your unfailing faith in the One provides. I am praying for you as you wait on the Lord🌻

Deandra, this hurt my heart for you, but also put joy in there as well. I know that doesn’t make sense, but let me explain. This sounds like me in times past. There was a time when I was able to pay my bills ahead of time, before they were due! I prided “myself” on this. I didn’t openly brag about it, but like you with giving up the tv and movies, I had decided to get closer to God in other ways. The bottom seemed to fall out of my world! Long story short, bills had to be paid late. And it continued this way for years. God knew I hated this with a passion!

But I learned to trust in Him, even in my shame. It was embarrassing for me! Especially if I had to pay the bill in person.

Christians are suppose to have everything in their lives together, right? No milk will ever get spilled, the grass will always be green and God will always come through “when” we think He should….

But we should never lose hope. He IS an on-time God, yes He is. He may not come when we want Him, but He will be there right on time! He’s an on-time God, yes He is! (A song)

Praying for you and your sweet family! I pray God’s breakthroughs show up and provision comes just in time!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Renee…
Honey…
Sister…
My love…
Pride?
Oh. My. Gosh…
He’s stripping away more of pride from me…
Hallelujah!
Whew!
Thank You Lord for pruning!
It hurts like crazy but when the pride goes, He comes in for He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble…
Thank you for pointing this out!!
And for your honesty…
And for highlighting that we DONT have it all together…He does.
He’s with us in the fire, the non-payments of bills, the delays…
HAAAAALLLLLEEEELLLLUUUJJJAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

It may not be pride for you Deandra…it was for me😥 I think it’s mostly stripping “anything” and “everything” that keeps us from walking by faith…that is a hard road to walk. It’s like walking in a dark room with all the lights turned off and wondering which way we’re going! I believe He’s birthing something great in you girl! 🤗🙏🏼

Renee, I can say without hesitation that it was pride – no doubt about that. Even writing this post and sharing that He didn’t come through was another blow…another shattering…another delayering. I didn’t realize that this was part of what it was until you shared and I’m so grateful for the stripping away. Walking by faith requires this, requires total surrender and oh my love…a season of waiting. I love you so!
Father, thank You for the lessons You revealed to Renee that has given her the courage to go through and share and minister to me even now. I pray Abba that You would continue to bless her. Continue to draw her deeper still. Continue to strip her so that all we will ever see is You, and only You. Thank You for the well within her that continues to spring forth, for the new wine we get to sip of…O Abba, thank You for the heart transformation…In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oh my goodness Deandra! Why I’m just now seeing this, I do not know! This has sooo touched me!!!! Thank you for praying that prayer over me! Maybe that is what God is doing to us both—stripping our pride and self-sufficiency! So all that is left is His Reflection! I always want to depend on Him!…Girl, during that time I was telling you about in my earlier comment, we stayed a paycheck behind on bills no matter what I did, for years! I finally got to the place in prayer and surrender that I realized it was all His. My heart could not take the worry anymore…I told Him that if my car was repossessed I was still going to serve Him. It would not be the end of the world. I would get by somehow, because I was doing everything I could do—paying my tithes, offerings, giving of my time, praying, praising, worshiping, fasting and being faithful in every way I could. The rest was up to Him. It was a God Thing—He was teaching me to depend on Him. I wasn’t gonna get out of the trial till I learned the lesson. I thank Him for that!…I was just thinking about you and praying for you, and found your comment here. I love you my beautiful friend! I pray that God supplies all your need according to His riches in Glory! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💜🤗

And now I’m just seeing your response, but His timing is perfect. Renee, I’m so glad you walked this path before- it gives me hope, and joy. The Lord has been reminding me as well about my tendency to be self-sufficient instead of God-dependent and so He’s been showing me how much I need to surrender it ALL to Him. Truly, only He is More than Able!

Dee, this is both beautiful and precious. Thank you for sharing from your heart of love and faith in our Savior. I look forward to learning about what He does next; as James reminds us, “every good and perfect gift” comes only from Him, the Father of lights. From this experience is already an uplifting devotional. God loves you so much! ♥

Jacquie, I talk about you every time I think of God’s gift of writing to me…
I confess this was one of the hardest posts to share, being vulnerable and showing God’s seemingly delay was a walk of faith. Especially not knowing what the next step/act will be in this regard…
Thank You for your support, encouragement, motivation and reminder from scripture.
I love you 💕

Thank you Dee, for your kind words. Your transparency is a blessing, and I am convinced your courage to speak about the reality of walking by faith, will bless many and bless you in myriad ways. God loves you and so do I. ♥

So true! And that Scripture of the story of Lazarus is a perfect example of how God sometimes waits because He has something amazingly better for us and for those whose lives will be touched!
The wonderful thing is that He is there for you even if the money isn’t.
❤

Sweet Precious One, Mother Fowler has no advice for you. All I can say is that I am doubly proud of you. First, you presented your dilemma, then you bore your soul in the arms of Jesus, next you finally listened to His comforting/scolding words, and finally you came to yourself and began to infuse lessons learned from a very familiar bible story about Mary and Martha. I personally love transparency. Jesus was transparent…saying not my will but thine be done…and ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’ My Redeemer has caused me to point my thumb back at myself millions of times. So now, before my prayers, I whisper these words…Father, I yield, I yield to your will and to your ways. Then I pray. Amen!